One last thought for now - per the suggestion of some pages ago, why not incorporate the characters and ideas from Strange Visitors into the Multiverse of AoW by making them (or a variation on them) part of the past in Captain Carpenter's point of origin in The Nexus?

Founder of H.E.R.O.I.C, Complimenter-in-Chief, Co-Arch Henchman to the Grin, Servant of the Hoff!

The sudden upswing in the undead across the world has got Mister Arcane deciding it may be time to retire from active adventuring with the Order to see if he can do anything about fixing all the massive sorcerous problems on Earth. His philosophy, so far, has been that if the planet gets invaded by aliens then that's a problem as much as demons eating Santa Clause. His position as being PL 14 and now THIS close to becoming a Aeon (holding off mostly because he wants to make sure Earth-0 is safe) means that he's aware he needs to prioritize.

He's also getting married again, which is awkward as hell given the bride is White Rose. An individuals who has a less than favorable view towards Earth but are nearly as powerful magicians as him. This act, notably, would also make sure that he's son-in-law of the Red Jade and brother to the other Roses..

As a result, Mister Arcane is seeking out individual heroes to handle the worst of the vampire crisis in preparation for his ascending to loftier duties in the Palace-Between-Dimensions. He's considering the Dawnblade to be a source of potential allies as well as the Deacon but attempts to find a worthy successor have already backfired before. Mister Arcane is trying not to think about the fact he was fooled by Devil Sun II into tutoring him in the mystic arts.

Last Girl Standing has taken to becoming a prolific vampire hunter outside of her duties with the Blue Centurions. With the exception of Dark Sun, Last Girl Standing is indiscriminate in her slayings. Having had a bad experience where Byron enspelled her, doing everything to break her dignity BUT the unthinkable, she's decided they're all Titanspawn and it's important to rid the world of the undead. This is an activity which will come to a head as it was Last Girl Standing who discovered Miss Trix's treachery and has really awakened the dark side of her personality. Believing the Blue Centurions' good nature and will was taken advantage of, she's ready to drop their traditional attitude of Silver Age goodwill. Last Girl Standing intends not only to kill Byron when she gets to him (like she's killed so many other undead) but also has Miss Trixx and Dakki on her hit list.

The discovery that she's got something like 37 notches carved on her stake, soulless and otherwise, plus this plan of assassination would lead to a terrible rift in the group. A group already suffering from Blue Centurion feeling like he's been made a fool of (now that he's awoken from his coma).

The Slayer (formerly the Mysterious Jedi) has formally abandoned his Star Wars theme for a carbon-fiber katana and silver-filled guns after an encounter with the Midnight Club. Rescuing a group of young men and women meant to be sexually abused then killed in a gladiator ring, he's realized that his rather bizarre attire was invoking derision rather than fear. Whereas before he doesn't care, now he actively wants to put the scare in these undead before killing them. His effectiveness has thus increased dramatically. Albeit, he hasn't gotten any less crazy.

The Innocent's attempt to talk some sense into him failed spectacularly. Mostly, because the Slayer realized she'd known about his crush for years and hadn't mentioned anything. Her statement he should turn himself in rather than simply stop killing so much also went over like a ton of bricks.

Super Dragon Punch Ten has also developed a rather disturbing ability that makes her a prime target for the undead. She's discovered she's entirely capable of resurrecting vampires and restoring their humanity. Which is problematic because she thinks vampirism is the coolest thing ever. Many vampires have thus decided to target her for kidnapping in hopes of lifting their curses or preventing her from wholesale changing them.

The Esoterrics are somewhat back and forth on the issue of vampirism due to the fact they've been called to help several covens against the Order of Saint Uriel as well as having been exposed to the Knight Foundation. Final Girl, however, considers vampires something better staked than talked to. Hell Dragon is also uncomfortable with the issue since he's killed more vampires than he's had hot meals (which doesn't impact his relationship with Dark Sun since he's done the same to demons like himself).

Dark Sun has a mixed relationship with vampires as a whole given she's the most prolific slayer of them around. Only recently has she started to realize she's not exactly unique in wanting a relatively normal life, which is ironic to say the least. Apparently, she completely missed a century's worth of reluctant vampire fiction before becoming one herself. Now as somewhat of an icon, she's being called repeatedly to try and give guidance to her fellow undead.

Dark Sun was briefly allied with Lord Ruthven in this before discovering, SHOCK, he was kind of evil and not just a little evil. The 'I'm sort of the vampire Ra's Al Ghul in a kilt' sort of evil.

The King in Shadows is one of the Nine Lords of Death who dwells in the Death Zone. The other Nine Lords of Death include The Abyssal, Harmonious Jade in Winter, The Masked God With No Eyes, The Ordinary, The Twins Who Dwell In Their Names, Mister Nihilsm, and The Death's Head.

The Nine Lords of Death are the generals of The End, who have been chosen for a very specific quality. They are heroes who, when it came to the moment of reckoning, failed epically. Like Darth Vader or Lord Soth, they not only betrayed their principles but they did so in a way that utterly stomped on their previous values.

The Nine Lords of Death serve as the End's Harbingers because the guilt, self-loathing, and hatred inside them has gotten to the point they're all quite happy to annihilate Creation. For some, this is part of a twisted plan of redemption. They believe that by destroying the existing Nexus, they can create a new one which will replace it.

A place where all of their sins are forgotten and the paradise mortals dwell in will easily overwhelm any of their evil deeds done up to this point. For others, it's simply a way of eradicating everything so they can forget all reminders of the darkness.

For them, death is not a release because the End has copied his DNA and immortality onto them as well as linked him to the corrosive energies of the Death Zone. The only being in creation capable of killing one of the Nine Lords of Death is the End himself and he only bestows this "mercy" when he has a suitable replacement.

He does NOT bestow this gift to those who failed him. No, he simply gets "creative" when that happens.

The King of Shadows is the exception to this rule as he's deluded himself into believing that it is possible for him to find redemption by betraying the End. He believes that destroying the End will allow him to achieve redemption for his horrific sins and restore his name to the ranks of the great and glorious.

To that end, the King in Shadows has opened a "crack" in Earth-0 and has started moving amongst the people of the world. Stories of a black-cloaked figure wielding a ridiculously large katana and crossbow capable of slaying Daemonites in one blow have filled the air. Unfortunately, the consequences for his actions outweigh the benefits.

The King in Shadows is a one man walking Negative Energy Reactor that's pouring out Death Zone energy and Black Magic wherever he walks. He's a primary reason that a LOT of Nexus-based power awakenings are being "twisted" so that people are becoming ghouls, vampires, intelligent zombies, and living ghosts.

Worse, he's ripping down the barriers between the home of the Hungry Ghosts and Earth-0. This is what's leading to the current rising zombie-problem and Revenants. The King in Shadows is actually aware of this but is working to recruit these individuals (or enslave them with his necromancy) to build an army to defeat the End. He also is self-deluded in believing that he has it under control and the problem isn't nearly as severe as it is.

Visitors to the King in Shadows' realm will find a fantastic superheroes-meets-Solar Exalted palace filled with beautiful ghosts empowered with stolen life-force so they experience 80% of life's pleasures along with countless tattered reminders of a once grandiose heroes' realm. The King in Shadows is eager to impress his fellow heroes and win their acceptance, offering them luxuries and wealth beyond most individuals imagination. Rejection or criticism, however, drives him mad with rage.

So far, the only heroes aware of the King in Shadows' presence are Deathstalker (who believes he's a demon), Pooka (who only one person believes when he explains there's a Demon Death God walking around), Moonatic (who is the one), and the High Aeons (who were planning to assault him but whose plans were derailed by everyone's sudden attack of cowardice following Torment's defeat of them). Both Victor Vanquish and the Celestial Lions know the man the King in Shadows previous was and for this, he'll either try to destroy them by any means necessary or react...unpredictably.

The King in Shadows treason has not gone unnoticed by the End. The End just doesn't care.

Ironically, the End predicts he'll do something desperate to protect himself. Already, he believes the King's planning to download Mister Carnae's mind into Mister Arcane's to create the "fallen hero" he needs to replace himself in the Nine.

He doesn't want to but he so desperately wants to escape and be a hero again. Unfortunately, those who abuse power can never know courage--and without courage, one cannot be a hero.

Phrozen wrote:Well, the PF7 are pretty sure that Lucretia never visited Earth-0 but.........there are a lot more vampires now and she is the only one that know.

Lucretia visiting Earth would be very interesting. I imagine certain segments in fashion, Hollywood, and supervillainy would LOVE her.

Libra wrote:Charles, fine work on The Vampires of E-0 (I'm particularly entertained by Lord Ruthven, a version of Dracula one could very easily imagine Mr Gerard Butler playing with ease and grace).

Archaic Scottish warlord or not, Lord Ruthven has led a very interesting life. For example, Lord Byron learned everything he knew from him. Oh, and the only reason he's NOT as famous as Dracula despite being a better warrior and necromancer? He knows not to advertise his weaknesses to an Irish author.

Presently, Ruthven has decided to save Earth-0 from destruction. They just need to start culling all these various threats to it *snaps the neck of a polluter*.

I'd say Sailor Cosmos is pretty big on the vampire slaying as well, though she tries to make sure the vampire in question actually deserves it since she's nice that way. That said, she was given her powers to protect the Earth from any and all threats it may face and a depressing number of vampires qualify, particularly folks like Lord Ruthven, the Family and the Bloody Damned.

MightyDavidson wrote:I'd say Sailor Cosmos is pretty big on the vampire slaying as well, though she tries to make sure the vampire in question actually deserves it since she's nice that way. That said, she was given her powers to protect the Earth from any and all threats it may face and a depressing number of vampires qualify, particularly folks like Lord Ruthven, the Family and the Bloody Damned.

Doctor Justice will have a SERIOUS talk with the Blood Reavers when he finds out that their cybernetics (which allow people to shapeshift, turn into mist, regenerate, and other delightfully vampiric abilities) are a combination of magic and technology. Stuff that PHOBOS' idiots could NEVER have done themselves.

How did they do it? They studied him and copied his abilities.

Now they're using it to manufacture everything awful about the 90s Dark Age of Comics. BE SPAWN! Only $500,000!

Voltron64 wrote:Also damn, has everyone Victor used to care about gone evil?

The King in Shadow's betrayal was a moment of terror that prevented him from being the one to endure Victor's thousands of years of imprisonment. It was always the plan Victor imprison Devil Sun but the King intended to take his brother's place because he loved him so dearly. Unfortunately, when the moment came, the horror of being bonded with Devil Sun for eternity caused him to hesitate and Victor finished the plan without him. The KIS willingness to let his brother do it, even by accident, destroyed him emotionally and physically. So he didn't join the rest of their race in ascending.

Instead, he brooded and sought for a way to free Victor.

And failed.

In the end, the End convinced him that he was a monster and deserved nothing less than to dwell with the damned for all eternity.

Edit:

Someone needs to do a "Kirby-esque" Pantheon for Victor's people to contrast the general douchebaggery of the High Aeons and Celestial Lions.